Local Leads: 6/9/10

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The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:

MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOLS BRANDING
The Montgomery County school board voted on Tuesday to brand its elementary school curriculum in an effort to cash in on future national educational standards. The district will partner with textbook giant Pearson to create tests and lesson plans for kindergarten through fifth grade. Within several years, the school district and the company expect to earn revenue as school systems around the country, and even the globe, buy the curriculum. (Washington Examiner)

106 YEARS LATER, BEER AND WINE IN KENSINGTON?After spending its first 106 years without it, Kensington is expected to loosen its ban on alcohol in town by seeking to approve carry-out beer and wine. A Monday referendum polling residents concerning whether or not they would favor state legislation to provide for off-site sales of beer and wine passed, with 242 in favor and 125 opposed. (Gazette)

ESPN ZONES CLOSING? The Walt Disney Co. is shutting down most of its ESPN Zone stores, a chain of sports-themed restaurants located in seven cities, according to a person familiar with the matter. The only outlets to remain open are those tied to a Disney property, such as the Downtown Disney shopping district in Anaheim. (Baltimore Sun)

CAN YOU RETURN MY STUFF?
It was with a growing sense of dread that Shaun Morber hurried through the aisles of Village Thrift in Bladensburg on Tuesday morning. He scoured the shelves looking for something familiar: a framed photo from his wedding, his external hard drive, his Hewlett-Packard computer . . . There was no sign of anything. (Washington Post)